Pumping system



May 10, 1932. N. E. GUNDEjRSON PUMPING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 21. 1929 Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES NORRIS E. GUNDERSON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI PUMPING SYSTEM Application filed January 21, 1929. Serial No. 333,800.

The invention relates generally to pumping systems and more particularly to a control for pumping systems adapted to prevent the pump from running empty or airbound.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a control for a pumpingsystem adapted to prime the pump automatically if the pump loses its prime and to shut down the system after thepump has been primed a predetermined number of times, so as to prevent injury thereto.

Another object is to provide a control for a pumping system embodying a horizontal centrifugal pump which includes a new and in the suction pipe while the pump is being primed.

Another object is to provide a pumping system embodying a control mechanism comprising such a float switch and'air release device adapted to operate under a high vacuum.

A further object is to provide a float operated control mechanismembodying an air release valve and a control switch for the pump motor and means to operate said switch embodying a lost motion connection so that the switch will be operated as the float moves into its extreme positions.

In pursuance of the foregoing objects, I aim to provide in a pumping system comprising a suction pipe extending down into a well and connected to the intake side of a centrifugal motor driven pump, the combination with an automatic starter for the motor, of a water supply for priming the pump under the control of an electrically operated valve, a-pressure or float switch to control the starting and stopping of the system in accordance with the demand, and a combined air release valve and automatic control device connected to the suction pipe and adapted to vent the suction pipe while it is being primed and to cause automatically, a

priming of the pump should it lose its prime.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a pumping installation embodying the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical central section through the automatic priming control device. 1

Fig. 3 is a view along the line 33 of Fi 2.

ig. 4 is a horizontal section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view along the line '5 5 of Fig.4.

lVhile the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many difierent forms, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail one such embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.- The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. As illustrated in the drawings, the preferred form of the invention is embodied in a pumping system comprising a suction pipe 1 arranged to extend down into a well and connected at its upper end to the intake of a centrifugal pump 2, which pump is directly connected to a motor 3 controlled by a magnetic type automatic starting switch 4 having an operating coil 5. It is contemplated that the discharge pipe 6 of the pump will have a suitable check valve 7 therein and will be connected to a suitable tank or reservoir (not shown) and that a float or pressure switch 8 having a pair of control contacts 9 will beso associated with the said tank or reservoir as to control the' output of the pump by-opening the contacts 9 when the tank is "full and closing the contacts 9 when the tank reaches its minimum level. Thus in its simplest form of operation the pump motor 3 would be started when the water in the tank reaches its low level and would be stopped when the water in the tank reaches its maximum level.

The pump 2 is preferably primed by means of water supplied from a tank 10 of fixed capacity, through a pipe 11 having an electrically operated control and check valve 12 therein, the capacity of the tank 10 preferably being such that it is capable of priming the pump only three or four times for the purpose hereinafter more fully pointed out. Each time the pum starts, the priming tank 10 is automatically lled through the solenoid check valve 12 and pipe 11, this valve and pipe being so proportioned with respect to the discharge pipe 6 that in the operation of the pump, all of the water which has been used to prime the pump does not return to the tank 10, a large portion of it passing out through the discharge pipe 6. Thus if the pump 2 loses its prime upon pumping out only the priming water from the suction line 1, upon priming the pump a second time additional water is drawn from the tank 10.

In order to prime the pump automatically in case it loses its prime, and to shut down the system after the tank 10 becomes empty, the

invention contemplates a new and improved control mechanism designated generally as 13 embodying means responsive to water in the suction line 1 and having a hollow casing or housing 14 connected to the suction pipe line 1 by means of a pipe 15. As illustrated most clearly in Fig. 2 the casing 14 forms a float chamber and has a lever 16 pivotally mounted therein on a transversely extending pivot pin 17. A float device or ball 18 is ating rod 24 extends within the tube 23 andsecured to one end 19 of the lever whereas the other end 20 is arranged to operate an air release valve and an electric control switch as hereinafter more fully described. It will be apparent that with the pump shutdown and the system idle the float 18 will be in its lowermost position as shown in Fig.2 and that as the pump is primed, the water will rise in the suction pipe 1, through the pipe 15 and in the casing 14 until the float 18 rises and pivots the lever 16.

The control devices operated by means of the float '18 as disclosed herein, are particularly adapted for use in pumping systems wherein there is a high vacuum during normal operationand in the exemplary form shown the upper wall 21 of the casing 14.is

rovided wit an aperture 22 wherein the ower end of a seahng tube 23 is secured. This tube extends upwardly from the casing 14 a distance sufficient to insure proper opera-'- tion on the vacuum contemplated. An operat its lower end is pivotally cormectedto the lever 16 b means of a pin 25 engaging a slot 26 in the ever. The upper end of the rod 24 extends beyond the tube 23 and is connected to and supports an outer tube 27 which is closed at its upper end and extends downwardly and surrounds the tube 23. A tubular casing 28 is mounted on the upper wall of the casing 14 surrounding the aperture22 and forms a well or chamber 29 with the wall 21 and tube 23 for containing a column of mercury 30.

It will be apparent as shown in Fig. 2 that an air release passage from the float chamber is thereby provided through the aperture 22, the sealing tube 23 and down between the sealing tube 23 and outer tube 27 into the casing 28, which passage is controlled by the lower end of the outer tube 27 which operates as an air release valve.

A vent tube 38 is provided, preferably on the casing 28, so that air may be exhausted from the suction pipe 1, pipe 15 and casing 14, through this exhaust passage. Thus normally with the float in its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of the tube 27 is above the mercury column 30. When the pump is primed the air in the suction line and pump escapes through the air release pas-v sage and when the water rises in the casing 14 the float 18 is raised and the tube 27 moved down into the mercury, thus closing the air release passage. The invention contemplates that the proportions of the float 18 will be such that in operation there is an appreciable delay in the movement of the tube 27 so that all of the air in the casing 14 and preferably some water as well, is forced out through the air release passage so that there will be no air confined within the tube 27 or casing 14. Preferably the lower end of the tube 27 just touches the mercury when the float is in its mid-position.

An electric control switch is preferably mounted in a housing 31 positioned on top of the casing 28 and suitably secured thereto, said housing having a somewhat tubular portion 32 forming an extension to the casing 28 and a box like portion 33 for enclosing the switch designated generally 35. The housing 31 is preferably provided with an internally threaded flange 36 at its upper end arranged to receive the lower end of a correspondingly threaded enclosing casing 37 which extends upwardly and is closed at its upper end, the parts 28, 31 and 37 thereby forming a housing surrounding the tube 27.

In the exem lary embodiment of the invention the e ectric control switch 35 is mounted in the housing 31 and arranged to be actuated b means of a pair of collars 39 and 40 secure in vertically spaced relation on the outer wall of the tube 27. The switch 35 is preferably of a type commonly known as the absolute contactor type embodying a sealed tube 41 having a pairof contacts 42 at one end thereof and a pair of contacts 43 at the other end thereof with a quantity of.

mercury 44 therein arranged to close the contacts 42 when the tube is in the tilted position shown in Fig. 3. The contacts '43 are then opened. The contacts 43 will be closed when the tube is tipped in the opposite direction, in which position of the tube 41, contacts 42 are opened. The tube 41 is pivotally mounted, by means of a pivot pin 47, on a bracket 45 secured to the intermediate wall 46 of the housing 31, and is provided with an eccentrically mounted operating rod 48 extending through a slot 49 in the wall 46 to a position intermediate the collars 39 and 40.

During operation the tube -41 is shifted from the position shown in Fig. 3 to one wherein it is inclined in the opposite direction and means are preferably provided so that as the tube is pivoted through a horizontal position, its movement is automatically completed. To accomplish this a spring 50 is secured at one end to the rod 48 and at its other end to a pin 51 secured to the bracket 45 on the opposite side of the pivot 47 and in the horizontal plane thereof so that as the pin 48 moves to either side of the horizontal plane through the pivot 47 the spring 50 completes the movement of the tube 41 by a snap action.

As illustrated in the drawings, the motor 3 is of the three phase type and is supplied from lines a, b and a through the automatic starter 4 and connecting wires e, f and g. The solenoid check valve 12 is normally closed with its solenoid 12 deenergized. A first or starting circuit for the motor is arranged to connect the'coil 5 of the automatic starter in series with the contacts 43 and the contacts 9, and across the lines ab, whereas a second or priming circuit connects the solenoid 12 in series with the contacts 42 and contacts 9, and across the lines ab. Thus "a connection 60 is provided between the line b and one of the contacts 9, a connection 61 between the other contact 9 and lead wire 43 of the contacts 43 and a connection 62 between the lead wire 43 and one end of the coil 5, the opposite end of the coil 5 being connected directly to the line a. Thus with the float 18 down (the casing 14 being empty of water) the contacts 43 are opened and prevent the coil 5 from being energized even when the contacts 9 are closed due to the lowering of the water level or pressure.

Lead wire43.is preferably connected directly to lead wire 42 since a common circuit is sufficient back through connection 61, contacts 9 and connection 60 to the line b. In this way the contacts 42 and 43 function as a single pole double throw switch. A connection 63 is provided between lead wire 42 of the contacts 42 and oneterminal of the solenoid 12 and a connection 64 between the other terminal of the solenoid and the line a so that with the parts in the position shown in the drawings, the contacts 42 are closed tubes 23 and 27, casing 28 and vent 38 until the water rises in the casing 14, whereupon the float 18 will be raised and the air release passage closed by the sealing of the tube 27 in the mercury 30. During the downward movement of the tube 27 the collar 39 will engage the rod 48 to tilt the tube 41in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig.

3) and after passing through a horizontal position, the movement of the tube 41 will be completed by means of the spring 50. This movement of the tube shifts the mercury 44 to close the contacts 43 and open the contacts 42, thus closing the starting circuit through the coil 5 of the automatic starter and opening the priming circuit through the sole.-

noid 12*. The starter 4 is thereby closed to start the motor 3 as the valve 12 is closed to prevent further priming of the pump.

During normal operation of the pump 2, a suction will be created in the pipe 1 and also with the pipe 15, casing 14 and tubes 23 and 27 whereupon the mercury 30 will rise be tween the tubes 23 and 27 to a height commensurate with the vacuum obtained. This continues to seal the air release passage from the suction side of the pump until for some reason the water in the casing 14 is withdrawn. This may happen for example if the pump loses its priming and air enters the suction pipe 1. The water from the casing 14 willthen flow down through the pipe 15 and lower the float 18 whereupon during the corresponding upward movement of the tube 27 the collar 40 will strike the rod 48 during the last portion of the upward movement of the tube 27 and shift the tube 41 back to the position shown in the drawings wherein the circuit to the starter coil 5 will be opened and the circuit through the solenoid 12 will be closed. This will cause a priming of the pump from' the water in the tank 10. If

operation and e to investigate and remed the trouble in the system and refill the tan 10 before the system can again be placed in operation.

. It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have not only provided a novel pumping system embodying a control whereby the pump is shut down and primed if for any reason the pump is running empty but that I have also provided a novel control mechanism whereby the pump may be automatically and alternately primed and started a predetermined number of times after which the system will remain shut down. Thus in case of serious trouble because of which the pump repeatedly loses its priming, the entire system is automatically shut down until the trouble is remedied. The invention thereby lends itself most readily for use in installations where an operator is not present at all times and is also of decided advantage in that even though an operator may be present, his serv ices are not necessary until the seriousness of the condition is called to his attention by the permanent shut down of the pump. Furthermore it is believed apparent that I have provided a novel control embodying an air release valve and an electric switch adapted for use on vacuum systems and which is particularly eflicient in that it not only functions automatically to prime the pump and start .the motor alternately but also in that it provides for the venting of the air in the suction side of the pfystem during the priming ectively prevents the entrance of air while the pump is in operation.

claim as my invention:

1. A pumping system comprising, in combination, a motor driven centrifugal pump, a. priming-water supply for said pump, means connecting said water supply with said pump embodying a normally closed valve having an electrically operated actuator, an output control device embodying a pair of contacts which are automatically closed when -it is desired to start the pump, an electrically operated starter for the pump motor having'an actuating coil, and a control mechanism for priming the pump automatically comprising a float chamber connected to the suction side of the pump, a float device in said chamber, a two position switch and an air release valw e actuated by said float device, a first circuit through said coil and said contacts closed when said switch is in one position and a second circuit through the actuator of said valve and said contacts closed when the switch is in its other position, said switch closing I having a suction line, a priming-water supply for said pump, means connecting said water supply with said pump embodying a normally closed valve having an electrically operated actuator, an electrically operated starter for the pump motor having an actuating coil, and a control mechanism for priming the pump automatically comprising a float chamber connected to the suction line of the pump, a float device in said chamber, a switch and an air release valve actuated by said float device, a first circuit through said coil closed when said switch is in one position and a second circuit through the actuator of said valve closed when the switch is in its other position, said switch closing said first circuit to start the pump when the air release valve is closed and closing said second circuit to prime the pump when said air release valve is open.

3. In combination with the suction line of a motor driven pump, a control device comprising, a casing forming a chamber in communication with said line, a sealing tube extending upwardly from the casing and surrounding an aperture therein,

a second tube closed at its upper end telescoping said sealing tube, a housing surrounding said tubes and secured at its lower end to said casing to form a mercury well at the lower end of said sealing tube, means to actuate said second tube responsive to water in said chamber, an electric control switch for the pump motor mounted on said housing and means carried on said second tube for actuating said switch. 7

4. In combination, a motor driven pump, an electrically operated starter for the motor,

. acontrol device comprising a two position electric switch for operating said starter to start and stop the pump and an air release valve, and a float operated mechanism for actuating said switch and valve arranged to delay actuation of the switch after the valve.

5. In combination, a motor driven pump, a suction line to the pump, an electrically operated starter for the motor, a control device comprising a casing forming a chamber connected to said line, a sealing tune ex tending upwardly from the casing and surrounding an aperture therein, a second tube closed at its upper end telescoping said sealingtube, a housing surrounding. sald tubes and secured at its lower end to said casing to form a. mercury well at the lower end of said sealing tube, means to actuate said second tube responsive to water in said chamber, an electric control switch for said starter mounted on said housing and having an operating r'od and a pair of spaced abutmentscarried on said second tube for actuating said rod.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

' NORRIS E. GUNDERSON. 

